In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. A question like "How big is Faerie?” does not admit (1)_________ a simple answer. Faerie, after all, is not one land, one principality or (2)_________ Maps of Faerie are unreliable, and may not be (3)_________ upon. Faerie is bigger than England, as it is bigger than the world. In the middle of a wood so thick it was very nearly a forest was a small hut, (4)_________ of thatch and grey clay. A yellow bird in a cage sat on its perch outside the house. It did not sing, and sat (5)_________ silent.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.
dominion
Let's carefully analyze the given passage and the options provided for blank number 2. The passage describes the mystical land of Faerie, emphasizing its elusive and indefinable nature.
Analyzing the Passage for Blank 2 Word Choice
The sentence containing blank 2 is: "Faerie, after all, is not one land, one principality or (2)_________". This sentence lists things that Faerie is *not*. The items listed before the blank are "one land" and "one principality". Both of these refer to geographical or political divisions or areas of control.
- A "land" implies a territory.
- A "principality" is a territory ruled by a prince, again related to territory and rule.
We need to choose a word for blank 2 that fits this pattern, suggesting another type of defined area, territory, or sphere of control that Faerie is not.
Evaluating Options for Blank 2
Let's look at the options provided for blank number 2:
- dominion
- organism
- entity
- unit
Now, let's consider each option in the context of the sentence "Faerie, after all, is not one land, one principality or (2)_________":
- dominion: A dominion is a territory under the control of a ruler or state; sovereignty or control. This word fits well with "land" and "principality" as it also relates to territory and control.
- organism: An organism is an individual living being (like an animal or plant). This word has no relation to geographical areas, political divisions, or spheres of control. It does not fit the context.
- entity: An entity is a thing with distinct and independent existence. While Faerie is an entity, the sentence is listing types of defined territories/controls. "Entity" is a very general term and doesn't fit the specific category established by "land" and "principality".
- unit: A unit is a single thing or person, or a component part of a larger whole. Like "entity", "unit" is too general and doesn't specifically relate to territories, principalities, or areas of control.
Comparing the options, "dominion" is the only word that continues the pattern established by "land" and "principality", referring to a type of territory or area under control. The sentence is emphasizing that Faerie is not a single, defined political or geographical entity in the conventional sense.
| Option | Meaning | Fit in Sentence Context |
|---|---|---|
| dominion | Territory/sphere of control | Fits with 'land' and 'principality' pattern. |
| organism | Living being | Does not fit geographical/political context. |
| entity | A distinct thing | Too general, doesn't fit specific pattern. |
| unit | Single item or part | Too general, doesn't fit specific pattern. |
Therefore, "dominion" is the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 2.
Completing the Passage Sentence
With "dominion" in blank 2, the sentence reads: "Faerie, after all, is not one land, one principality or dominion." This makes sense in the context of describing Faerie as being vast and ill-defined, not conforming to standard political or geographical classifications like a single country, a single ruled territory, or a single sphere of control.
For context, let's briefly consider the other blanks (though we are only solving blank 2 here):
Blank 1: "does not admit (1)_________ a simple answer." - Likely needs a word like "of".
Blank 3: "Maps of Faerie are unreliable, and may not be (3)_________ upon." - Likely needs a word like "relied".
Blank 4: "In the middle of a wood... was a small hut, (4)_________ of thatch and grey clay." - Likely needs a word like "made".
Blank 5: "It did not sing, and sat (5)_________ silent." - Likely needs an adverb like "completely" or "utterly".
Focusing back on blank 2, the choice of "dominion" aligns perfectly with the discussion of Faerie not being a single, conventionally defined territory or area of rule.
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Term | Relevance to Blank 2 |
|---|---|
| Land | Geographical territory |
| Principality | Territory ruled by a prince |
| Dominion | Territory or sphere of control/sovereignty |
| Context Clues | Using surrounding words ('land', 'principality') to determine the type of word needed. |
Additional Information: Cloze Test Strategy
Cloze tests, also known as passage completion questions, assess your vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills. To successfully complete a cloze test:
- Read the entire passage first to understand the general meaning and flow.
- Read the sentence containing the blank carefully.
- Look for context clues in the words and sentences immediately surrounding the blank.
- Consider the part of speech needed for the blank (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.).
- Evaluate each option provided, trying it out in the blank mentally or on scratch paper.
- Check if the chosen word makes grammatical sense and fits the overall meaning of the passage.
- Sometimes, eliminating clearly incorrect options helps narrow down the choices.
In this case, understanding the context provided by "land" and "principality" was crucial in identifying that blank 2 required a word related to territory, rule, or control, making "dominion" the logical choice.
Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in blank space (1)?
What would come in blank space (2)?
What would come in blank space (3)?
What would come in blank space (4)?
What would come in blank space (5)?
